The high school baseball season is less than a month old but it looks like competition will be fierce in the state of Florida as many of the top teams in the preseason rankings from the Sunshine State have already suffered a loss.
Elsewhere, No. 1
Corona (Calif.) posted its fourth shutout in five games with a 9-0 victory over
Norco. After two more league games with Norco, the Panthers have their first big test next week when they compete in the Boras Classic. Then it's off to North Carolina during spring break where the Panthers will defend their championship at the National High School Invitational.
Venice def. Calvary Christian, 5-4. The Indians scored three runs in the top of the seventh to secure a 5-2 lead but had to hold off a rally in the bottom of the seventh by the Warriors. With the go-ahead run at the plate, Calvary Christian's
Brett Garcy fouled off six straight pitches before finally lining out to the right fielder to end the threat.
Game to watch: IMG Academy vs.
Jesuit (Tampa). The two teams split their two games last year and the Ascenders won an epic 9-8, nine-inning game in 2023 that helped them win the national championship.
Hitter of the week: Cedaris Smith of Buchholz went 4-for-4 with eight RBI, a double and a home run against Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Pitcher of the week: Matthew Sharman of
Etowah (Woodstock, Ga.) struck out 11 and threw a five-inning no-hitter against Wheeler.
Streaks:
Eaton (Colo.) opened its season with a pair of wins to up its win streak to 71 in a row dating back to the 2022 season. The Reds moved past
La Cueva (Albuquerque, N.M.) for fifth place on the all-time list for consecutive wins. La Cueva had 70 wins in a row from 2004 to 2005. The Reds are four wins away from tying
Homer (Mich.) for fourth place all-time.
Dropped out: No. 17
Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.),
No. 24
Midland (Texas), No. 25
Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
Senior catcher leads No. 6 Stoneman Douglas in batting with a .476 average. The Eagles are one of seven Florida teams featured in this week's rankings. (FILE PHOTO: Laura Martin)
1. Corona (Calif.)
Record: 5-0 |
Last week: No. 1
Scores: Def. Norco, 9-0
Hitter and Pitcher of the week: Seth Hernandez struck out 12 in five innings and allowed no runs on two hits against Norco. He also had a home run and three RBI.
Next: Tuesday vs. Norco
2. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Record: 0-0 |
Last week: No. 4
First game: March 29 vs. Lakota East
3. Huntington Beach (Calif.)
Record: 2-0 |
Last week: No. 6
Scores: Def. Fountain Valley, 3-2
Hitter of the week: Trent Grindlinger went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer.
Pitcher of the week: Jared Grindlinger threw two-and-a-third innings of no-hit ball with four strikeouts.
Next: Tuesday vs. Marina
4. Etowah (Woodstock, Ga.)Record: 14-1 |
Last week: No. 6
Scores: Def. Wheeler, 14-0, 7-0, 12-2
Hitter of the week: Deion Cole was 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in the 12-2 win.
Pitcher of the week: Matthew Sharman threw a five-inning no-hitter with 11 strikeouts and no walks in a 14-0 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. North Cobb Christian.
5. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)
Record: 5-0 |
Last week: No. 7
Scores: Did not play
Next: Wednesday vs. Villa Park
6. Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.)
Record: 13-1 |
Last week: No. 8
Scores: Def. Cardinal Gibbons, 15-7; def. Miller School of Albemarle, 3-0; def. Bishop Snyder, 8-0
Hitter of the week: Jake Rizzo went 4-for-5 with three doubles and three RBI against Cardinal Gibbons.
Pitcher of the week: Gio Rojas gave up one hit over six innings against Miller School, striking out nine and walking none.
Next: Wednesday vs. Flanagan
7. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Record: 6-0 |
Last week: No. 9
Scores: Did not play
Next: Wednesday vs. Murrieta Valley
8. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record: 11-1 |
Last week: No. 2
Scores: Lost to South Walton, 7-6; def. Trinity Christian Academy, 2-1; def. Magnolia Heights, 5-3
Hitter of the week: Nathan Eisfelder hit a home run in all three games during the week.
Pitcher of the week: Kyler Meccage got the save against Trinity Christian Academy and the win over Magnolia Heights.
Next: Tuesday vs. Jesuit (Tampa)
9. Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, Ala.)
Record: 16-0 |
Last week: No. 15
Scores: Def. Helena, 12-1; def. Springville, 8-0
Hitter of the week: Cam Simpson was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI against Helena.
Pitcher of the week: Hudson Mitchell struck out six in a five-inning shutout over Springville.
Next: Tuesday vs. Mountain Brook
10. Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.)
Record: 0-0 |
Last week: No. 10
First game: March 22 vs. Bay City Western
11. Puyallup (Wash.)
Record: 1-0 |
Last week: No. 11
Scores: Def. Mount Vernon, 10-4
Hitter of the week: D.J. Ringenbach had a pair of doubles in the win.
Pitcher of the week: Mason Pike struck out nine over five innings, giving up one run on two hits.
Next: Tuesday vs. Kennedy Catholic
12. Gloucester Catholic (Gloucester City, N.J.)
Record: 0-0 |
Last week: No. 12
First game: March 31 vs. Washington Township
13. Providence Catholic (New Lenox, Ill.)
Record: 0-0 |
Last week: No. 13
First game: March 24 vs. Joliet Central
14. Pleasure Ridge Park (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 1-0 |
Last week: No. 14
Scores: Def. LKY, 14-0
Hitter of the week: Gevar Harris had an inside-the-park home run with three RBI.
Pitcher of the week: Grayson Roll pitched three innings of a four-inning no-hitter, striking out two and walking one.
Next: Tuesday vs. Portland Christian
15. Kingwood (Texas)
Record: 18-1 |
Last week: No. 19
Scores: Def. Goose Creek Memorial, 10-0, 13-6
Hitter of the week: Graham Charboneau had two home runs and four RBI in the 13-6 win.
Pitcher of the week: Will Fiedler went five innings and gave up no runs on one hits with six strikeouts in the 10-0 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. North Shore
16. Buchholz (Gainesville, Fla.)
Record: 13-0 |
Last week: No. 20
Scores: Def. Forest, 13-6; def. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville), 10-1; def. Columbia, 10-2, Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.), 3-1
Hitter of the week: Cedaris Smith went 4-for-4 with a double, a home run and eight RBI against Bishop Kenny.
Pitcher of the week: JJ Gardner struck out seven against Columbia.
Next: Wednesday vs. Knoxville Central
17. La Mirada (Calif.)
Record: 7-1 |
Last week: No. 16
Scores: Def. Warren, 4-2, 23-4
Hitter of the week: Aiden Aguayo went 3-for-3 with a double, two home runs and five RBI in the 23-4 win.
Pitcher of the week: Isiah Navejas struck out two and did not allow a hit in his one innings of work in the 4-2 win.
Next: March 25 vs. Birmingham
18. Venice (Fla.)
Record: 12-1 |
Last week: No. 18
Scores: Def. Calvary Christian (Clearwater), 5-4; def. Riverview Sarasota, 9-1; def. Gulf Coast, 13-3
Hitter of the week: Nic Dunn had a double and a home run with four RBI against Gulf Coast.
Pitcher of the week: Jackson Lucas struck out five and got the win in a 13-3 win over Gulf Coast.
Next: Tuesday vs. Canterbury
19. Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.)
Record: 14-1 |
Last week: No. 3
Scores: Lost to Venice, 5-4; def. Cambridge Christian, 7-1; def. Countryside, 12-3, def. Indian Rocks, 12-1
Hitter of the week: Brett Garcy went 2-for-5 with a double and five RBI against Countryside.
Pitcher of the week: Cooper Notz had five strikeouts in three innings against Indian Rocks.
Next: Tuesday vs. Seminole
20. Harlem (Ga.)
Record: 16-0 |
Last week: No. 22
Scores: Def. Cross Creek, 15-0, 21-5; def. North Augusta, 10-0
Hitter of the week: Steven Harshbarger went 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBI in 10-0 win.
Pitcher of the week: Brody Knight gave up one hits over three innings with seven strikeouts in the 15-0 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Westside
21. Benton (La.)
Record: 18-1 |
Last week: No. 23
Scores: Def. Quitman, 17-0; def. Parkway, 10-6, 3-0
Hitter of the week: Case Jorden went 2-for-3 with a triple, a home run and five RBI in the 10-6 win.
Pitcher of the week: Kade Bryant struck out six and gave up just two hits in seven innings for a 3-0 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Captain Shreve
22. Collierville (Tenn.)
Record: 10-0 |
Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Trinity Christian Academy, 16-5; def. Southwind, 15-0; def. Smyrna, 12-1; def. Christian Brothers, 5-4
Hitter of the week: William Cale Allen had a double and a home run with three RBI against Smyrna.
Pitcher of the week: Ayden Jacobs struck out seven in three innings for the win over Smyrna.
Next: Tuesday vs. Munford
23. Bishop Verot (Fort Myers, Fla.)
Record: 13-0 |
Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Providence School, 3-2; def. St. Johns Country Day, 4-3; def. Houston (Germantown), 4-0
Hitter and Pitcher of the week: Joey Lawson struck out nine against St. Johns and also had a home run.
Next: Tuesday vs. Charlotte
24. Calallen (Corpus Christi, Texas)
Record: 15-0 |
Last week: NR
Scores: Def. United, 10-6; def. Central Catholic, 3-0; def. London, 10-0
Hitter of the week: Wyatt Duke homered in the win over United.
Pitcher of the week: Chase Lynch threw a seven-inning one-hitters with nine strikeouts against Central Catholic.
Next: Friday vs. Robstown
25. Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Record: 9-2 |
Last week: No. 21
Scores: Def. Lincoln, 3-1; def. Marist, 6-4; lost to IMG Academy, 2-1
Hitter of the week: Brady Harris had a pair of home runs against Lincoln.
Pitcher of the week: Aaron Watson struck out 13 against Lincoln.
Next: Wednesday vs. North Marion
